Champions League preview: Lyon v Real Madrid

Real Madrid travel to Lyon’s Stade de Gerland on a revenge mission in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday.

With last season’s final held at their Santiago Bernabeu home, Real were determined to win their 10th European crown in front of their own fans.

But they came unstuck in the first knockout round, losing 2-1 on aggregate to French club Lyon, making it six consecutive seasons in which they have failed to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.

For a team that prides itself on a rich pedigree in continental competition, yet another disappointment – coupled with poor results on the domestic front – played a major part in the dismissal of coach Manuel Pelligrini.

Jose Mourinho – who lifted the European Cup with Inter Milan inside the Bernabeu – was approached to take over soon after his side’s 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in May last year.

The Portuguese, who also won the European Cup with Porto in 2004, has made an immediate impact on the domestic front with Real.

They are right behind league leaders Barcelona in the hunt for the La Liga title and have reached the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time in six years.

But the most important test of Mourinho’s credentials is likely to come in the Champions League, a tournament which club President Florentino Perez is determined to recapture.

Real defeated Levante 2-0 at home on Saturday and have won four consecutive matches in all competitions.

Lyon beat Nancy 4-0 on the same day and also dispatched local rivals St Etienne 4-1 the week before.

Claude Puel’s side have recovered from a slow start to sit third in Ligue 1, four points behind leaders Lille.

Lyon also boast an enviable record in the Champions League – they reached the semi-finals last season and have progressed to the knock-out stages every year since 2004.

First-choice Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez is in doubt for the French side after picking up a hamstring problem.

Former Lyon striker Karim Benzema may start up front for Real against his former club.